The Adventure Game: A Cameraman's Tales from Films at the Edge by Keith Partridge
| The Adventure Game: A Cameraman's Tales from Films at the Edge by Keith Partridge | |
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| Category: Animals and Wildlife | |
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Reviewer: Luke Marlowe
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| Summary: An extraordinary book, The Adventure Game is not just a book filled with pictures of extraordinarily dangerous environments and fascinating landscapes, but an in-depth look at the life and mind of an adventure cameraman – a man responsible for providing the public with astonishing shots from many shows and documentaries, but one whose role is often ignored, despite putting life on the line time and time again in order to take capture remarkable moments. | |
| Buy? Yes | Borrow? Yes |
| Pages: 256 | Date: June 2015 |
| Publisher: Sandstone Press | |
| External links: Author's website | |
| ISBN: 978-1910124314 | |
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Keith Partridge has been one of the world’s leading adventure cameramen for over twenty years. The award winning Touching the Void, Beckoning Silence and Human Planet are just some of the films that have taken him all over the earth, from the caves of Papua New Guinea to the summit of Mount Everest. No location has been too dangerous, no environment too wild, and if you have ever seen a climber or explorer in some outrageous position, chances are that Keith Partridge was there with his camera. Here Keith discusses the challenges that have faced him in the daring adventures has taken part in, with personalities such as Steve Backshall, Joe Simpson and Stephen Venables.
Cameramen are oft ignored – watch a documentary about the natural world, and chances are you are focusing on either the imagery or the presenter, but never giving a thought to those behind the camera. That is, I suppose, the mark of a good cameraman – an active bystander who serves as the viewer's eyes, remaining impassive and unbiased throughout. Thankfully, this means that Keith Partridge has plenty of tales to tell in this book, accompanied by stunning pictures from the various locales and environments that Keith has visited in his career.
It becomes staggeringly clear quite how hard the job of an adventure cameraman is – to capture a presenter in a dangerous position, chances are the cameraman will have to be in a position as, if not more, extreme. If a shot is missed, the cameraman may have to wait hours or days for the same moment to occur again. Keith Partridge comes across as dedicated, joyful about the opportunities his role has given him, and also, as no doubt necessary for the role, an adrenaline junkie who loves both nature, and this planet.
For a book as beautiful and coffee-table worthy as this one is, there is still a good amount of text – Partridge is a good writer with a great eye for detail and an ability to retell tales in an easy manner that really includes the reader, leaving them excited and nervous when telling of things lurking deep down in the ocean, or the perils that come from scaling Everest. It does go without saying though, that the pictures here are the real draw of the book – stunning images of environments from all over the world, some of which would look quite at home in a gallery. Not only does Partridge have a great eye for beautiful and stunning imagery, but he is also a respectful and gracious traveller – always in awe of his surroundings, and respectful to both the landscape and the locals. The boyish sense of enthusiasm that Partridge clearly still has for his work is contagious – and some shots in this beautiful book will make you grin and gasp at the same time.
Many thanks to the publishers for the copy. I struggled to find a book similar to this to recommend – and in the end plumped for Touching The World: A Blind Woman, Two Wheels and 25,000 Miles by Cathy Birchall and Bernard Smith. Whilst not filled the glorious images of The Adventure Game, Touching the World is nevertheless at a fascinating look at the world through a completely different viewpoint.
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You can read more book reviews or buy The Adventure Game: A Cameraman's Tales from Films at the Edge by Keith Partridge at Amazon.co.uk Amazon currently charges £2.99 for standard delivery for orders under £20, over which delivery is free.
You can read more book reviews or buy The Adventure Game: A Cameraman's Tales from Films at the Edge by Keith Partridge at Amazon.com.
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